Maine Economic Research Institute releases 2026 Roll Call evaluating legislators' votes on issues impacting Maine's economy

The publication provides an objective analysis of the 132nd Legislature's voting record on business and economic policy

AUGUSTA, Maine (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) — The Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI) today released its 2026 Roll Call, a biannual scorecard and analysis of the 132nd Maine State Legislature's performance and individual legislators' votes on bills and initiatives impacting Maine's businesses, workers and economy. The report provides Maine businesses and voters with an objective look at how legislators voted on issues affecting the state's economic competitiveness and long-term growth.

MERI, a project of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, has been tracking legislative voting records on economic issues since 1999.  During the 2025-2026 legislative session, MERI tracked 54 pieces of legislation affecting innovation, taxation, workforce development, housing, energy, regulation and other issues critical to Maine's economy. MERI supported 20 of the bills included on its final Watch List. Twenty-nine bills received recorded roll-call votes and were used to calculate legislators' scores.

"Maine has big opportunities ahead but it is also facing real challenges. The question I always try to answer: which lawmakers are working to help Maine people, Maine workers, and Maine's economy move forward?" said MERI President Simon West. "Roll Call takes the mystery out of how legislators are impacting Maine's economy and turns it into easy-to-understand information."

The report connects legislators' voting records with many of the economic issues currently facing Maine, including rising energy costs, housing affordability, labor shortages, worker productivity, research and development investment, and Maine's overall competitiveness. It highlights the legislation MERI tracked because of its impact on those economic indicators and assigns legislators scores ranging from 0 to 100 percent based on how their recorded votes aligned with MERI's positions. Legislators earning scores of 90 percent or higher are recognized as MERI MVPs for their consistent support of policies aligned with the organization's economic priorities.

"Every politician says they support a strong economy. However, in the Maine Legislature, that commitment is measured one vote at a time. Every vote contributes to a record that provides a clear picture of whether lawmakers consistently support policies that strengthen Maine's economy. We encourage Maine businesses and voters to review this legislative voting record, recognize those who have consistently supported economic growth, and encourage those with weaker records to do more to advance Maine's economy. Our state desperately needs policies that promote growth, investment, and opportunity now more than ever," said Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock.

MERI recognized Senator Bradlee Farrin as the 132nd Legislature's Top Performer after earning a perfect score of 100 percent. The organization also recognized Senator Trey Stewart and Representative Tiffany Roberts as Policy Champions for sponsoring legislation that advanced policies supporting Maine's economic competitiveness.
During each legislative session, MERI tracks legislators' votes on a Watch List of bills identified through an objective review of legislation affecting Maine's economy. Bills that receive recorded roll-call votes are evaluated after the legislative session concludes, and legislators receive scores based on whether their votes aligned with MERI's positions on those measures.

Since 1999, MERI has provided objective, research-based analyses of state legislators' votes that impact Maine's business community, economy and economic competitiveness. Legislation selected for tracking is driven by the issues Maine employers of all sizes and sectors identify as critical to their success and to growing Maine's economy.
MERI uses criteria from the Maine Economic Vision 2035 and Measures of Growth reports and takes into account Maine's current and future needs in areas including educational attainment, energy costs, wage growth, tax burden, research and development investment, talent attraction, housing and workforce availability to provide objective and transparent ratings of legislators' support for policies that strengthen Maine's economy and improve the state's long-term competitiveness.

The full 2026 Roll Call report includes legislator scores and rankings, economic indicators, MERI's legislative Watch List and descriptions of the legislation used in the scoring process. The report is available at www.me-ri.org/roll-call. The complete Watch List is available at www.me-ri.org/watch-list.
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About the Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI):
MERI is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization governed by a board of directors that includes Maine business owners, CEOs, and representatives from a diverse group of Maine employers. MERI’s board, advisors, and staff are focused on creating a healthy Maine economy, strong businesses, and quality jobs. MERI is affiliated with 10 statewide business associations and is administered by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.